The Brussels local transport company MIVB is organising auditions for musicians who want to play in metro stations. This is something the MIVB does every year, because it wants to ensure that artists in the metro put passengers in a good mood. Moreover, lyrics may not contain discriminatory language.
Brussels transport company MIVB holds auditions for musicians who want to play in the metro
Colin Clapson
Published:
Walt Bladt took part in the audition on Wednesday. ‘I play the saxophone in the band Waygu, together with Gust Scheerlinck,’ he says. ‘We've played in the metro before and it's great fun because there's a lot of footfall. You can share your music with an audience. Some passengers even sing along. They sometimes even bring us food.’
Walt and Gust play for fun, not for money. ‘And yet people give us money without us asking. That's a nice gesture, of course. We see the metro as a kind of rehearsal space. As a new band, we can try things out or hand out business cards to raise our profile.’
Twenty artists have registered for the audition. ‘They have to play for a jury made up of colleagues who are into music,’ explains MIVB’s Alizée Debruyne.
The jury also assesses whether the artists promote the values of the MIVB. ‘It is important that they convey a positive message to our passengers. The musicians are not allowed to perform hateful or discriminatory lyrics. Of course, we are not a conservatory, so they can be novice musicians.’
Artists who are approved receive a licence for an indefinite period, which must be renewed annually. ‘Every year, we review whether the group still conveys a positive message. But it is rare that we have to refuse a renewal,’ says Debruyne.